Thirty years ago, when I made my first trip to Hawaii, it took eight and a half days of calm sailing on a slow passenger ship to span the 2200-odd miles between Los Angeles and Honolulu. Today, the same journey can be made in 8 ½ of smooth flight, so high above the water that … Read more
Winds of hurricane velocity accompanied by heavy rain occurred throughout much of New England, New York, and Pennsylvania during the Thanksgiving weekend. Extensive damage occurred to shade and ornamental trees. In addition to breaking branches and trunks, many trees were uprooted, and others tipped at severe angles. Some of the trees were so severely damaged … Read more
When we look at a photograph of a beautiful flower, we can see two dimensions—height and width. When we see nature firsthand or view it through a stereoscope, depth is added. We need only to open our eyes a bit slider and look a bit closer to see yet another dimension. Perhaps we could call … Read more
Gardens Are for People, a provocative title for an extraordinary book by Thomas D. Church, carries a message to inspire thousands of homeowners to consider gardens from an entirely new viewpoint. Although little can be added to all that has been written about gardening through the ages, Mr. Church, with superb pictures and well-chosen words, … Read more
The Garden of Eden of Biblical days, that fabulous habitat of Adam and Eve — is now being restored in the Land of the Bible. Plants In Israel As in the days some 4,000 years ago, so today we find in Israel the following: Man-Made Forest Although the trees were part of natural forests in … Read more
Planning a flower garden is an art; planning a vegetable garden is a science. Half the fun of growing things is to make your arranged beds. The other half is to get down on your kneeling pad, dig your fingers in the soil and plant the items you want to grow. You can take suggestions … Read more
When “the days begin to lengthen and the cold begins to strengthen,” one draws up close to a blazing fire and settles down with a book for a cozy winter’s night of relaxation. Now and then, as you add a fresh log to the fire, pause a moment and examine it. If the outer bark … Read more
Dessert plants (like desert scenery) are not everybody’s dish. Some people just can’t stand the thorny, prickly, touch-me-not things. But for a lot of us, they have a special charm due partly to the endlessly varied queerness which makes them the eccentrics of the vegetable world. Even more important is the startling improbability of their … Read more
If your planting space is limited and you love small plants, classic charm, and the outdoors, why not try a miniature garden? There is no reason why you can’t have one. To begin with, you require no yard at all – just a patio, porch, or window planter! A miniature garden is an ordinary rock … Read more
There may be snow on the ground outside, but it can be spring inside your home. Even in the dead of winter, the blossoms of apple, cherry, magnolia, and forsythia can brighten your home with their delicate loveliness. At the same time, the heady perfume of jasmine, flowering quince, lilac, and honeysuckle can scent your … Read more